Boot or shoe.



c. L. BLAISDELL.

BOOT 0B SHOE. APPLIOATIOR rmm 1111.30, 1901.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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CHARLES L. BLAISDELL, OF MILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

12001103 snon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application filed January 30, 1907. Serial No. 354,855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. BLAIS- DELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Strafi'ord and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Boots or Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an improved shoe, having for its object the provision of means for adjusting a buttoned shoe accurately to the size of the ankle and so arranging the parts that the shoe remains at all times accurate in fit, comfortable, neat in appearance, not liable to catch the dress or garment of the wearer, handy to button and unbutton, etc.

The constructional details of my invention will be pointed out more at length in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

The drawings present a side view of one embodiment of my invention looking at the in-side or hollow of the shoe.

I have already mentioned in the introductory part of this specification some of the advantages and ob ects of my invention, although only a part thereof. For instance, stout ladies have considerable difficulty in putting on and taking off the ordinary laced or buttoned shoe, and accordingly one object of my invention is to provide a yielding button flap on the inside of the foot, which enables the user to bring the shoe into proper position for buttoning or unbuttoning simply by moving the foot sidewise toward or across the knee, which brings the button flap upward, this being the most easy and com fortable position for the purpose. the button flap oblique so that it comes along the line of least resistance for closing the shoe and the elastic gore is so placed that it makes this button flap free to yield and aids materially in the ease of buttoning the shoe, as each individual button-hole can yield forward separately as it is ulled by the button hook. The lace and direction of the flap also offers t e least interference with the Walking movement of the foot. Just back of the button flap, and parallel thereto, I insert the narrow, oblique, elastic gore mentioned, and at the front of the shoe I provide I make a lacing o ening, the result being that the shoe can e adjusted accurately to fit any given ankle simply by tightening up the lacing portion of the shoe, which is then left permanently laced and thereafter the button a is depended upon entirely for opening an closing the shoe, while the elastic goring gives the required ease of movement, so that the shoe may be adjusted by the lacing to a closer fit than would otherwise be feasible in a buttoned shoe. I This brings the buttons also at the side of the shoe out of range with the 'arments, so that the latter cannot catch on t e buttons as they frequently do when the button flap is at the front of the shoe.

Referring to the drawings, the shoe proper consists of a vamp 1 and top or leg portion 2 of any usual or preferred shape or style. At the front of the shoe an opening 3 is provided located the same as in the usual laced or buttoned. shoe, said opening being provided with a lacing 4 whereby it may be adjusted accurately as desired. On the inside of the foot I provide a second opening or button flap 5, buttons 6 and button holes 7, being provided to cooperate in usual manner. The button flap overlaps from the rear, the buttons being placed on the front under portion and the utton holes contained in the overlying rear part. The 0 ening 5 begins at the top edge of the shoe, a out half way from the front to the back vertically over the center of the ankle joint, and continues thence downwardly and obliquely forward in a straight line terminating at the seam-line of the vamp above the ball of the foot, 01. e. ahead of the front end of the shank at the point 8. The gore 9 is a narrow inserted strip of elastic material lying close to the button holes and parallel to the opening 5, and extends obliquely downward over the center of the ankle and terminates at the under side of the ankle joint considerably above the foxing 10. My construction rovides a close, high opening preventing ust and water from entering at the vamp, shank, or foxing, as would be the case if the opening extended downwardly farther than I have shown it, and enables the wearer to ull conveniently up and forward on the ap-carrying back quarter of the top, lap it over on the rear edge of the front portion of the top and button it readily. This is of special advantage to stout persons, and it gives unexpected ease, not only in buttoning the shoe, but in wearing the shoe:

This construction produces an elegant appearance, and the side opening does not spoil the style of the shoe, which on the contrary is as tasty in appearance as if the only opening were at the front. The entire outer side of the shoe is smooth and the only opening which the wearer uses is the opening 5 on the inside of the foot, located in such position that all inconvenience in putting on and removing the shoe is obviated notwithstanding the fact that the shoe is adjusted by the lacing 4 much closer and tighter than could otherwise be the case. This also obviates the necessity of resetting the buttons, which is the common practice in buttoned shoes as heretofore constructed, in order to make them fit different sizes of ankles.

It has heretofore been common to lace shoes at the front, but my lacing is not provided for the purpose of lacing the shoe, but on the contrary is an adjustment merely for fitting the shoe originally to the particular foot of the wearer, and when once adjusted is not thereafter laced or unlaced, but remains fixed.

I do not claim any originality in employing a gore or a button flap or a lacing opening, as each of these taken separately has heretofore existed in other arrangements, my invention residing in the novel c01nbi= nation and mutual dependence and cooperation of these parts in effecting the new and desirable results which I have already outlined.

Having described my invention, what I from the front to the back on the inside ol A the foot, thence extending downwardly and forwardly in a straight line terminating at the said seam-line vertically above the ball oi the foot ahead of the [rent end of the shank, buttons on the front edge of said opening and button holes in the adjacent edge of the rear member of said opening to permit the rear member to lap over forward on top of the front portion, and a narrow parallel-sided elastic gore inserted in said rear part parallel to said button opening close to the button holes tern'iinating at its up oer end at the top edge of the shoe-lop extending thence in a straight line downwardly over the center ol the anlde and terminating at the under side of the ankle oint considerably above said seam-line.

In testimony nihereol, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. BlnrlSlDElili.

Witnesses C. J. Hairenavns, W. F. Hanennvns.

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